Fund raising boost for the COPD team

The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) team in Carlisle have received a very generous donation of £500 which was raised by the Carlisle Breast Care Support Group.

Barbara Nixon and her mother Olive Armstrong were both being seen by the COPD team in Carlisle and referred to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme. Sadly Olive passed away earlier this year and didn’t get to start the programme but Barbara started the programme in April. Things got off to a difficult start for her and her programme was interrupted as she had two hospitals admissions. She was finally able to attend the classes 5 weeks after her discharge from hospital and completed the programme.

Barbara said “the exercise programme done wonders for me and I have never felt better than I do now. They are amazing people. They were at the end of the phone when I was ill with chest infections. My goal was to be able to go up and down the stairs twice a day. I have now achieved this using the breathing techniques, learned not to panic and I am continuing to do the exercises at home. I use my exercise bike and have also managed to lose 2 ½ stone at Slimming World, just another 8lb to reach my target weight as a result of being able to exercise”.

Another family member, Val Armstrong Co-Chairman of Carlisle Breast Care Support Group held a Think Pink Bay City Roller fund raising event at the Sands Centre in April. They decided to give part of the money to the COPD team as a thank you for the help the team provided for both family members. Val said “my sister Barbara has benefitted greatly from learning the techniques taught by the COPD team. We are so grateful for their help and support and they’ll never be far from my mind when we are fund raising in the future.”

COPD is a lung disease that is an umbrella term for chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In 80-90% of cases, it is caused by smoking, other causes of COPD can be occupational factors and there can be a genetic factor in a small majority of cases.

One of the main elements of the COPD team work is delivering Pulmonary Rehabilitation “Better Breathing Classes”. Patients with a diagnosis of COPD are assessed and treated in Carlisle, Brampton and Longtown. The team is made up of nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and therapy assistants who help people manage their long term condition and improve their daily living. Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a 7 week programmes for COPD patients. The team have had variety of ages attending Pulmonary Rehabilitation from patients ranging from their late 30's to early 90's!!